Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 131

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

यस्यैतानि न दत्तानि प्रेतश्राद्धानि षोडश / पिशाचत्वंस्थिरं तस्य कृतैः श्राद्धशतैरपि

Transliteration

yasyaitāni na dattāni pretaśrāddhāni ṣoḍaśa / piśācatvaṃsthiraṃ tasya kṛtaiḥ śrāddhaśatairapi

Translation

Người nào không được cử hành mười sáu lễ śrāddha dành cho vong linh (preta), thì trạng thái thành piśāca (linh hồn bất an, lang thang) sẽ bám chặt nơi người ấy; dẫu về sau có làm hàng trăm lễ śrāddha cũng khó mà hóa giải.

Word by Word

• yasya: of whom/whose
• yasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive/6th), Ekavacana (Singular); relative pronoun

• etāni: these
• etāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (Neuter), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (Nom/Acc), Bahuvacana (Plural); refers to the rites mentioned

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-nipāta (negation particle)

• dattāni: given/offered
• dattāni: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-pratyaya PPP, Napuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Bahuvacana (Plural); passive sense: 'have been given/performed'

• preta-śrāddhāni: śrāddhas for the departed (preta)
• preta-śrāddhāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preta (प्रातिपदिक) + śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (Neuter), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (Nom/Acc), Bahuvacana (Plural); tatpuruṣa: 'pretasya śrāddhāni'

• ṣoḍaśa: sixteen
• ṣoḍaśa: Saṅkhyā (संख्या)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ṣoḍaśa (संख्या/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: Saṅkhyā-vācaka (numeral used indeclinably)

• piśācatva-sthiram: firm/lasting piśāca-state (ghoulish condition)
• piśācatva-sthiram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piśācatva (प्रातिपदिक; piśāca + tva) + sthira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (Neuter), Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (Singular); karmadhāraya: 'sthiram piśācatvam'

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/Neuter), Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive/6th), Ekavacana (Singular)

• kṛtaiḥ: performed
• kṛtaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (प्रातिपदिक; √kṛ + kta)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (Neuter) or Puṃliṅga (Masculine) in usage; Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/3rd), Bahuvacana (Plural); agrees with 'śrāddhaśataiḥ'

• śrāddha-śataiḥ: by hundreds of śrāddhas
• śrāddha-śataiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक) + śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (Neuter), Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/3rd), Bahuvacana (Plural); tatpuruṣa: 'śrāddhānāṃ śataiḥ' (by hundreds of śrāddhas)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (concession/emphasis)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: The prescribed set of sixteen preta-śrāddhas within their proper post-death period; omission is portrayed as hard to remedy later.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Non-performance of the sixteen preta-śrāddhas results in a fixed piśāca-condition; later excess rites may not easily reverse the entrenched consequence.

Vedantic Theme: Karma’s time-sensitivity and niyama: certain saṃskāras must be done in their proper window; negligence hardens saṃskāra and suffering.

Application: Prioritize timely completion of the prescribed sixteen preta-śrāddhas; treat omissions as serious and seek immediate corrective guidance rather than relying on later bulk performance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: descriptions of preta condition and the necessity of specific śrāddhas for release (contextual continuity within 2.34)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas
• Pishachas

FAQs

What is the importance of the sixteen preta-śrāddhas in Garuda Purana?

This verse states that neglecting the prescribed set of sixteen preta-śrāddhas can result in the departed becoming fixed in a piśāca-like, restless condition, highlighting the rites as essential supports for the post-death transition.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It implies that without timely post-death rites (preta-śrāddha), the departed may not stabilize into a proper ancestral or onward state and can remain stuck as a troubled spirit, indicating the ritual framework is meant to aid orderly passage after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform post-death rites responsibly and on time (or ensure they are arranged through family/priestly guidance), and cultivate remembrance, charity, and dharmic living—so obligations to the departed are not neglected.